Voyager
THE WOR LD THROUGH FASHION By Jordan Staggs | Photography courtesy of FEED
Lauren Bush Lauren is no stranger to the spotlight; being the granddaughter of a US president, a successful fashion model, and a cover girl for the likes of Vogue and Vanity Fair had a lot of perks. Perhaps one of the most unexpected advantages, though, was being able to take her experience and influence and use them to call attention to something really important: world hunger.
Opposite: FEED founder Lauren Bush Lauren was inspired to start the company after working with the United Nations World Food Programme in nations including Chad and Guatemala.
80 | JUNE 2018
Lauren found her calling in the World Food Programme (WFP), a United Nations organization that works to wipe out world hunger and malnutrition. WFP assists an average of 80 million people worldwide each year. In 2005, while traveling as a student ambassador for the program, Lauren witnessed the devastating effects of world hunger firsthand and became driven to help directly and practically—by providing school meals for children in impoverished countries.
How would Lauren fund this critical and lofty endeavor? She drew from her experience in fashion as a model and as an intern at Zac Posen. Lauren founded FEED in 2007, creating a line of high-quality handbags and other products. Each sale translates directly into funding for WFP’s school feeding program, and stamped on each of the brand’s signature canvas bags is the number of meals provided through its purchase. Working with artisans in countries such as Guatemala, Peru, Kenya, India, El Salvador, Haiti, and Colombia has also allowed FEED to create jobs, another valuable commodity to the people of those nations and beyond. Since its inception, FEED has grown into a robust online retail business and also provides experiences through the FEED Shop & Cafe in Brooklyn, New York, the FEED Supper program, and sponsored events and seminars. It has provided over 100 million meals to children in schools around the world.
